Stephenson County, Illinois

OBITUARY: Freeport Daily Journal, June 23, 1898, Pg 5, C 5. (Freeport, Stephenson Co., IL)
    Kencke.
    At 10 o'clock this morning the angel of death entered the home of Rudolph Kencke on Taylor avenue and took away the beloved wife and mother.  Mrs. Kencke had been ill with lung trouble for about a month, but was steadily gaining and on a fair way to recovery, when heart trouble combined with that of the lungs and her demise was very sudden in consequence. 
    Mrs. Martha Kencke was a Stephenson county lady and was born and raised in Lancaster township, Jan. 12, 1849, being the date of her birth.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Smith, old settlers and highly respected residents.  Mr. Smith has been dead some time but Mrs. Smith is still living at the age of 82 years, her home now being in Lincoln, Ill.  Mrs. Kencke was united in marriage June 11, 1867, to Rudolph Kencke, who with six sons is left to mourn the loss of a dear wife and mother, who ever sought to make home a pleasant place for them.  The oldest son is 28 years of age and the youngest but 7. 
    The names are as follows: Edgar, Henry, Arthur, Willie, Freddie and Ralph.  She also leaves several brothers and sisters as follows: Albion Smith, of Cherokee, Ia., Mrs. Helen Schermerhorn and Mrs. Mary J. Turner, of West Union, Ia.; Mrs. Emma Petit, of Rockford., D.J. Smith, of South Dakota, G.B. Smith, of Nebraska, and A.L. Smith, of Clinton, Ill.
    Most of the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Kencke has been spent on a farm in Lancaster, but about a year ago they moved to this city.  Mrs. Kencke was a woman possessed of a wide circle of friends and her rather sudden death is a sad blow to them as well as to her immediate family.  She was a member of the Second Presbyterian church, and the pastor, Rev. J.D. McCaughtry, will officiate at the funeral to be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock.